McHENRY – Josh Downey had never set out to run a small business selling hand-packed giardiniera.

“I didn’t even eat giardiniera until a few years back,” he said. “I fell in love with it and started eating copious amounts of it.

“Then I started making giardiniera for myself and some families got a hold of it and really liked it (beginning of fall). So I started selling it to see if I can make something out of it."

When his hand-packed giardiniera straight from his parents’ kitchen kept selling out, Downey realized he could be on cusp of something bigger.

The 28-year-old with a history degree from Monmouth College had worked in retail while living with his parents in McHenry before the buzz over Chicago Johnny’s spread through word of mouth.

Encouraged by the enthusiasm from friends and family, Downey went on to put in more time and effort into the newfound venture. Downey’s middle name is John, which spawned the namesake product.

He started selling Chicago Johnny’s as a vendor at a flea market in Wilmot, Wis., in late summer. And relying on his Johnsburg High School ties, Downey partnered with a small deli shop and a gas station to stock the items.